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Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

batmagadanleadoff Oct 11 2012 02:23 PM

...according to Howie Megdal The Mets may be in decline but their ticket prices aren't By Howard Megdal 3:40 pm Oct. 11, 2012 The Mets are coming off a 74-88 season, their sixth straight without a playoff appearance and third straight in which their record was worse than the previous year's. The team cut more than $50 million from the 2011 payroll for 2012, and announced that they will be keeping payroll static for 2013. Attendance dropped from 3.16 million in 2009 to 2.56 million in 2010, 2.35 million in 2011 and 2.24 million in 2012. This happened despite steep cuts in ticket prices in each season, along with extensive deals and giveaways just to sell out 2012's Opening Day and keep the 2012 fan drain to a minimum. So in 2013, the Mets are trying something different: ticket prices are going up. The released prices for 2013 season tickets are out, and no seats will be available for less money than in 2012. However, the prices of a significant number of tickets will go up more than seven percent, from the least expensive seat in Citi Field, Promenade Reserved, to a large number of the field level seats. The Mets declined to provide any 2012 ticket pricing, despite repeated requests. But their prices are still available online, and an apples-to-apples comparison is possible. The following sections will increase in price-per-seat: Field Silver ($6,386 to $6,577), Baseline Gold ($6,433 to $6,581), Baseline Silver ($3,629 to $3,713), Left Field Gold ($4,164 to $4,460), Right Field Gold ($4,164 to $4,285), Left Field/Right Field Reserved ($2,341 to $2,425), Caesars Gold ($5,767 to $5,931), Caesars Box ($3,356 to $3,423), Pepsi Porch ($2,200 to $2,342), Promenade Gold ($2,808 to $2915), Promenade Box and Promenade Infield ($1,776 to $1,833) and Promenade Reserved ($1,389 to $1,491). All other sections will remain the same price, with those sections primarily the most expensive seats in the stadium. For some perspective, the nine highest price points for season tickets will remain the same. And the bottom eleven price points for season tickets are going up. Absent an increase in payroll for new players or decrease in prices to entice bargain shoppers, the Mets appear to be relying on the promise of a chance to buy All-Star Game tickets as a spur to new attendance. They could be on to something there, although the precedent is mixed, in terms of how significant that something will be. The Kansas City Royals, who hosted the 2012 All-Star Game, saw attendance rise just 15,409 for the season over 2011, or a difference of 190 per game. The Arizona Diamondbacks not only hosted the 2011 All-Star Game, they did so while the team improved from 65 wins to 94. Their attendance went up just 48,735 from 2010 to 2011, or roughly 600 per game. And the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who hosted the 2010 All-Star Game, saw attendance inch up a total of 10,428 fans all season over 2009, or roughly 129 fans per game. http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/s ... t-headline

Edgy MD Oct 11 2012 02:33 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Takes three 'graphs to puke out his thesis sentence. This one is really easy to write. Mets lower ticket prices = because they suck. Mets raise ticket prices = because they suck.

Gwreck Oct 11 2012 02:41 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Whatever, ignore the person who wrote it and focus on the facts: The Mets froze season ticket prices if you renewed early (not mentioned in the article). Apparently they are going up if you buy a new plan now. Nothing reported re: single-game prices. Any raise in ticket prices is absurd at this point, for obvious reasons. The idea that the Mets had "steep cuts" in prices in recent years is a red herring because it fails to acknowledge the "steeper increases" that immediately preceded them, with the switch from Shea to Citi.

Edgy MD Oct 11 2012 02:48 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Tickets will be priced according to the marketer's understanding of what the market will bear. If irrational exuberance doesn't lead people to buy them up front, you'll certainly see them fall --- through the club or through secondary markets --- as the season progresses. The writer has a broader point and I responded to it. I really don't think that deserves a "whatever."

Gwreck Oct 11 2012 02:50 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

I think the Megdal stuff has grown tired on both ends. A discussion of the Mets' ticket prices, is, however, a topic ripe for discussion.* *in my opinion

Ceetar Oct 11 2012 02:55 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Whatever, ignore the person who wrote it and focus on the facts: The Mets froze season ticket prices if you renewed early (not mentioned in the article). Apparently they are going up if you buy a new plan now. Nothing reported re: single-game prices. Any raise in ticket prices is absurd at this point, for obvious reasons. The idea that the Mets had "steep cuts" in prices in recent years is a red herring because it fails to acknowledge the "steeper increases" that immediately preceded them, with the switch from Shea to Citi. most of those steep increases were supply/demand raises in 2008 actually. I pointed out this out in June, when they mentioned the 'lock in your season ticket prices'. People flipped out that they wanted money early, but what they were clearly doing was offering you a chance to save some money by paying early. I would've jumped at it, as some people did. The jumps he lists are not even high. 1-1.50 a seat in most cases. This could simply be reflected by a larger number of more premium games (although probably not, since the top level, OD and SS, are down from 4-3) Due to dynamic pricing, releasing single game ticket prices is only part of the story. The Mets did a pretty good job with flexing prices and offering deals this season. Presumably they will again. Hell, they offered some buy 3 get 4 deals that would negate the price increase if they did again. The people they sell season plans to, for the most part (particularly in the '12-'13 season), are not bandwagon fans looking to see winning baseball, they're Mets fans looking to see the Mets. They've lowered prices for 3 consecutive years, and now presumably the data (which they have access to, and we don't) suggests that a slight price increase is in order. They run all sorts of analysis on this stuff, so it seems ignorant to claim they're acting cluelessly or egotistically. They're doing the same thing every sports franchise does every single year. adjusting prices to the place they think will result in the highest revenue in sales based on market data.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 11 2012 03:03 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

I can't imagine that ticket demand will be any higher in 2013 than it was in 2012. Supply will be the same. So when demand decreases, and supply stays the same, prices go... up?

Gwreck Oct 11 2012 03:04 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Ticket prices went up from 2006 to 2007, 2007 to 2008 and 2008 to 2009. Those were not all "supply/demand" increases but rather a calculated attempt to increase price levels before the new park opened. I do agree that the season ticket base is buying tickets irrespective of the team's performance. However, your other points are belied by the fact that the attendance dropped again this year, from last and from the year prior.

dinosaur jesus Oct 11 2012 03:11 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I can't imagine that ticket demand will be any higher in 2013 than it was in 2012. Supply will be the same. So when demand decreases, and supply stays the same, prices go... up? That's the business model where I work. We're not selling as many books as we used to, but if we charge more for the ones we do sell, we can still come out ahead. And that's why academic publishing is leading our nation's economic recovery.

Ceetar Oct 11 2012 06:16 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Gwreck wrote: Ticket prices went up from 2006 to 2007, 2007 to 2008 and 2008 to 2009. Those were not all "supply/demand" increases but rather a calculated attempt to increase price levels before the new park opened. I do agree that the season ticket base is buying tickets irrespective of the team's performance. However, your other points are belied by the fact that the attendance dropped again this year, from last and from the year prior. ahh, but will it decrease further, or have we mostly reached a tailing off point? (Keeping in mind that the Yankees lost more fans. Perhaps there's a New York/economy type thing working there. So increase the prices, a little, in the sections where there is demand, and continue pushing packages and deals and giveaways for the others. makes sense) Does the All-Star Game create anything? I don't know, and I don't think the comparisons Megdal put out there necessarily translate, but I'm certainly not banking on the ASG doing that much. I don't know if the Mets are or not. But the Mets know more about payroll. Know more about what their offseason plans are. If they're banking on a winning season, they probably make back that attendance drop. Factor in a Mike Piazza Day..do they expect to sell out the day they retire his number? Between Piazza and the ASG, 2013 becomes a pretty good focal point for the Mets to sell the "We're back" angle. I don't think that's lost on them.

Ashie62 Oct 11 2012 06:44 PM Re: Mets 2013 Ticket Prices: They're Going Up

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I can't imagine that ticket demand will be any higher in 2013 than it was in 2012. Supply will be the same. So when demand decreases, and supply stays the same, prices go... up? that...ah crap I don't go anyway...